Biography

Rainer Straub, Germany

born in 1967, he has been caving since 1983. He started surveying small caves of the Swabian Jura and deep vertical caves of the Bavarian Alps. He is a member of the German Speleo Group Höhlenforschungsgruppe Ostalb-Kirchheim e.V. In 1985 Rainer started cave diving. He is the Delegate for Cave Diving of the German Speleological Federation(VdHK)and participates on major cave diving projects like the exploration of the Wulfbachquellhöhle, Wimsener Höhle or the exceptional Blauhöhlensystem. These are some of the longest caves in Germany. He has been caving in many areas of Europe, Africa, US, Cuba, South America, Asia, Israel and joined several expeditions toLechuguilla Cave.

His wide interests in different speleological scopes are focused on exploring new caves and publishing the results. Because of the difficult conditions during his caving projects, he prefers using light and compact Fujifilm -X photo Equipment. Cave photographing is teamwork and takes a lot of time, patience and power from models and helpers in the cold and wet conditions of the underground. Very often he is supported by his wife Conny Straub.

Rainer participated 2013 and 2015 in International Meetings of Cave Photographers (ICPM). Beside Cave-exploration and -photographing Rainer & Conny enjoying travelling in remote areas, especially in Karstic and mountain areas around the globe.